Results 1-20 of 1,052,433 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Charlie McConalogue OR speaker:Malcolm Noonan OR speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:Alan Farrell OR speaker:Seán Haughey) in 'Committee meetings'

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: The purpose of this meeting is to consider the Supplementary Estimates for Vote 31 - Transport. I remind members the committee has no role in approving the Estimates. This is an ongoing opportunity for the committee to examine departmental expenditure, make the process more transparent and engage in a meaningful way on relevant performance issues. I thank the Department for the briefing...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister of State for his overview. Deputy O'Rourke is first to contribute.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I have a question on the public transport subhead, the reallocation of funding and the additional capital. I think that the Minister of State said there was a shift of €29 million from capital to current expenditure. It certainly is the case that there are increased numbers on public transport. I think it is a shared policy...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I can look at the cancellations: the 7.30 a.m. 103 service from Dublin to Ratoath; the 8.40 a.m. from Ratoath to Dublin; the 8.25 a.m. 109 from Dunshaughlin to Dublin; and the 7.42 a.m. NX from Dublin to Navan. Those were all cancellations this morning, which is, unfortunately, par for the course. Every one of those buses is full. There are 80 or 60 people. When those buses are cancelled,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: Thank you very much.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Am I okay for another question?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: Yes, go ahead. Just a brief one.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I might get the Minister of State to run through a couple of points briefly. He might come back to me on the 20% fare reduction in respect of private operators. There is a shared objective for public transport. There are ambitious plans in respect of Connecting Ireland and the rural bus transport network. I encourage the speedy roll-out of that. There are challenges relating to drivers,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: I am absolutely happy to have this discussion. We are in the unique position that this is our last meeting. The committee will not have the opportunity to weigh in on this matter. I ask that the Minister of State responds to the Deputy's other questions. I will then come back in on the matter of the airport, perhaps at the end of my contribution, if that is okay.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: I have my own remarks to make. I was going to ask for the leeway of the committee. I did not need to, as it turns out. Deputy O'Rourke and I are in the very advantageous position of being here with the Minister of State for whatever amount of time this takes. Therefore, let us come back to it.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: On the 20% for private operators in terms of public transport, has that been or will it be considered?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State has name-checked his party colleagues in the mid-east very well but I am glad he acknowledges the hardest work is being done by myself and my colleague Councillor Maria White on the issues of public transport.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: Thanks very much Deputy. Now I gave you enough leeway. I have a whole list of-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am learning here.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: -----Fine Gael TDs and people. I could reel them off if you like. I thank the Deputy and also the Minister of State for his responses. I will go through items based on the Estimate and the contribution the Minister of State made earlier. Then, as I mentioned, I would like to go into a little more detail regarding Dublin Airport and recent judicial decisions. I will start, as Deputy...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: I will come in on that specific item because when people think of BusConnects, they think it is a few new buses and a few new drivers, and they ask why it will take until 2030 and potentially beyond to deliver it. The reason, of course, is that the infrastructure requires change and sacrifice. There are communities up and down this city, and I am sure in other cities where BusConnects is...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: For the record, at the beginning of the meeting I did not offer the apologies of Deputies Feighan and Matthews, who are unable to make it to the meeting. Deputy Cathal Crowe is also unable to attend due to a bereavement. On behalf of the committee I offer our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to him and his family on their recent tragic loss over the weekend.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: I am sure Deputy Crowe would be here and participating in this conversation. It is a shock and we spoke before the meeting. There are a few items I would like to touch on. The first point I want to raise is the underspend by our Coast Guard. The Minister of State mentioned that €18 million was allocated due to an underspend in the Coast Guard. He also mentioned the new...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister of State. I have no desire to get into the technical details either, but it might be useful to understand the criteria used in that particular contract period. As to the capabilities of the aircraft, again I am not going to get into the technical details. I am not aware of the AgustaWestland being used for search and rescue, SAR, in other jurisdictions. However, I may...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Alan Farrell: Technically you can now say they have a fixed wing one, so it is five. Maybe they are running two out of the same location. Regarding the rotary-wing aircraft, it is four bases. Is there any capacity or requirement for expansion of that?